December 25, 2013

Hi there, folks! Trying something new this year. When I was a kid, I loved opening advent calendars, and not ones that were "saved" from year to year, either--that's cheating.

So in order to recreate my childhood (I am a comics fan after all), I'm going to post a new image related to Christmas each day from now till December 25th.

Generally speaking, these will be secular, unless I run into an amazing religious drawing. Also, please be aware that we here at Panel Patter do not endorse a particular faith. This is just a way to have some fun before a date when people, Christian or not, get a few days off (hopefully) to be with their friends and family and get lots and lots of good gift cards. A link to all of the Indie Advent posts is here.

If you've been with Panel Patter since the start, you'll know that I took a chance on Rafer Roberts' opus, Plastic Farm, and loved it. One of the things I've liked best about doing this blog is the many, many people I've met as a result, and Rafer and I have become close friends. I've watched his art--already good--become even better, as he expanded to other projects, honed his linework, and even get a gallery show.

It brings me great pleasure to wrap up our anticipation of Christmas with an original Rafer Roberts drawing, which he created for me after I asked if he could Photoshop a particular character for me.

Without further ado, here's Rafer to remove your visions of sugarplums (Who the hell eats those, anyway?) with Nightmares...

Thank you again, Raf, for all your support and friendship over the years!

And thank you, Panel Patter readers, for another successful year. I wouldn't keep doing this, if it weren't for you. Things are only going to get bigger and better in 2014, as Whit, Scott, and I keep talking about (mostly) good comics as Comics Evangelists, with more Preachers on the way.

I hope whatever Holdiay you're celebrating (or have celebrated) is/was awesome. Come back over the last few days for some Favorites lists, and we'll return to regular review work on the other side of the New Year.

From mine to yours, may the spirit or ethics that guide you be a shining light, and may your 2014 be even better than 2013 was, as we keep on reading and sharing the love of four color (not always) funnies.